John Loughlin considering another run for Congress against Cicilline

Tuesday

Apr 1, 2014 at 11:04 AM

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Republican and former state representative John J. Loughlin II says he’s considering another congressional run against David Cicilline, this time to unseat the First Congressional District Democrat.

By Tom Mooney

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Republican and former state representative John J. Loughlin II says he’s considering another congressional run against David Cicilline, this time to unseat the First Congressional District Democrat.

Loughlin, 55, of Tiverton, lost to Cicilline in 2010 in a tight race that caught many observers by surprise.

Loughlin, who runs Media-Rite, a television, radio and film production company, also fills in regularly as a radio talk show host on WPRO. He told radio listeners Tuesday morning he was considering another run.

In a telephone interview with The Journal afterwards, Loughlin said, “We’re taking a look at it. A lot of people have approached me and asked me to run….I wouldn’t do it unless I thought I had a legitimate chance to win.”

Loughlin, who attacked Cicilline’s handling of Providence’s finances while he was the mayor, said he had a team studying “whether the message I brought last time — of jobs and the economy– will resonate with Rhode Islanders in the First District.”

To date, Loughlin said he had not approached the national GOP about helping raise money for a run.